Alternative fuel ideas are being batted around throughout the United States and the rest of the world that is dependent upon fossil fuels.  The exception to that statement is that there are a few countries – mainly in the Middle East – that are sitting pretty atop most of the oil being produced.

The state of Pennsylvania has created a $5.3 million annual grant program to help accelerate the production and use of biofuels. The biofuels would be produced in the state and diminish the use of and dependence upon foreign oil.

“Pennsylvania’s alternative energy industry continues to grow through the development and deployment of a new generation of power sources and fuels and smart energy policies,” said acting Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger about Pennsylvania’s Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program. “Alternative fuels made from Pennsylvania’s crops are cleaner and invest millions of dollars into our economy by supporting our rural, agriculture-based communities.”

Since July, developers of fuel in Pennsylvania are required to put a percentage of ethanol or biodiesel into every gallon of gasoline or diesel fuel, respectively.  The governor of Pennsylvania, Ed. Rendell, put the legislation in force to encourage production of alternative fuels in the state.  The legislation allows for up to 10% of ethanol every gallon of gasoline and 20% of biodiesel in every gallon of diesel fuel.
 
The legislation which is called the Alternative Fuels Incentive Grant Program, will give 75 cents per gallon to eligible applicants, with a cap of $1.9 million annually per single producer. Up to $5.3 million annually will be available under the program through fiscal year 2010-2011.

Eligibility for the monthly incentives for producing alternative fuel, is dependent on applicants  producing and selling 25,000 gallons or more per month of qualified biomass-based diesel in Pennsylvania for transportation or home heating purposes.

Applications are available from DEP and will initially cover reimbursement requests for biodiesel produced and sold in Pennsylvania from July 1 through Sept. 30.  Applications must be postmarked or received by Nov. 14.   You can find information at www.depwe.state.pa.us, keyword: Alternative Fuels.

Most of the auto manufacturers throughout the world are working feverishly to create cars that are smaller, more efficient and run on alternatives to fossil fuels.  There are now vehicles that run on hybrid engines, vehicles that run on biofuels, solar powered vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles.

Of course, many of these vehicles are still in the experimental stage, with scientists, researchers and auto manufacturers looking closely at them – literally microscopically – to determine flaws and discover ways to improve the vehicles.

BMW is also participating in world wide efforts to create cars powered by alternative types of energy.  BMW is known for excellent automobiles and plans to use their high technology to produce a Mini that will live up to BMW’s standards.  “By introducing the Mini E, the BMW Group is underscoring the resolve with which it works towards reducing energy consumption and emissions in road traffic,” the company said.  BMW, as well as potential customers await the introduction the Mini E at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2008.

There is a catch, however.  Only 500 of these tiny and efficient cars will come to the United States and will be leased – not sold – at a hefty price of $850 per month, which is more than some people’s rent or house payment. They will only be available in New York, California and New Jersey as a test to see how well the market accepts the car and what consumers think.  In addition, the test will help uncover any changes or upgrades that might be necessary. 

Your $850 per month comes complete with all maintenance and repairs needed. The Mini E will be stylish with a big yellow plug logo painted on the roof and a serial number on the front bumper of each car. The car can be re-charged overnight in a regular outlet, or in 2.5 hours through a special high-speed charger.  The one drawback is that the car will be a two-seater at this point, because the battery is behind the seats and takes up a lot of space.  The future will determine whether or not there will be a smaller battery, and how soon it could be available.

There are always plusses and minuses when it comes to creating new products and ideas.  BMW is now stepping up to join the fight for workable and logical alternatives for fossil fuels.

Alternative Fuel Technology, LLC in Ontario, Canada has come up with a discovery that can help change vehicles that run on diesel fuel into vehicles that don’t pollute (or pollute very little).  Alternative Fuel Technology is an organization specializing in research and development.  They are currently designing and developing prototype manufacturing of fuel systems that will be able to use a new alternative fuel called dimethyl ether (DME).  

Alternative Fuel Technology has developed fuel injector systems for vehicles that run on DME.  They also provide DME fuel systems  for testing and research. 

An exceptional attribute of these systems is that they are low cost and efficient, and they can be retrofitted to work with most diesel engines.  The diesel engines that are equipped and retrofitted can then run on the new fuel, DME, which will burn cleaner, lower NOx emissions, eliminate smoke emissions such as soot particulates and eliminate exhaust odor. 

DME is considered by many to be the ultimate bio-fuel because of the attributes we have already discussed.  It is cheaper, better for the environment and can be derived from numerous natural resources including methanol, coal, natural gas and biomass.  Another factor making DME a great bio-fuel is the fact that DME can be administered and sold through existing propane infrastructure.  This provides DME a great advantage over other alternative fuels.  DME can also be used in most diesel engines with little or no modifications to the vehicle.

There has been a lot of research regarding alternative fuel, but most of the research has been geared and directed toward fuel for engines other than diesel engines.  The DME fuel systems being created by Alternative Fuel Technology, LLC are a giant step in the right direction.  With so many diesel engines on the road – from cars to trucks to 18-wheelers – the DME fuel systems can not only help the environment, but also help drivers of diesel run vehicles at the same time.

Good question, and so far, the answer is “NO!”  There are all sorts of questions about this issue and they all lead to trying to figure out what is going to happen with the airlines.  Many of us thought that when the fuel crisis eased a bit, we might be able to run off on a short, quick vacation because it would be affordable for a minute or two.  Those of us who thought that were apparently wrong.

According to numerous statements by numerous airlines in answer to all the questions about what will happen to fares in the wake of fuel prices that are falling, the airlines cannot afford to lower fares.

Here’s how it theoretically works.  David Castelveter spokesman for the Air Transport Association has explained that because the fuel prices were so high and kept the airline companies way over budget most of this year up until a few weeks ago, the airlines are still struggling to catch up because they are still in the hole.

Castelveter stated that “you don’t recover from multi-billion dollar increases in your fuel bill in a few weeks.  The carriers are on line to lose $5 billion this year.”  Part of the reason for this is that they were slow to react to rising fuel prices and once they did react, they acted slowly and cautiously trying to save money for customers in order to keep people traveling, and also hoping that fuel prices would level off or go back down sooner than they did.

There are still some good deals to be found, especially if you live in an area that is served by Southwest Airlines or other airlines that are known for their low cost flights.  Overall, however, air fares have increased 20% to 40% depending upon the airport, where you are traveling and how far in advance you book a flight.  In addition higher and more taxes and fees, and fees for baggage (how can you be expected to pay for your one and only suitcase?).

The airlines are simply trying to survive.  They have cut down on the number of flights they offer so that they can save money flying half-empty planes by consolidating more passengers to fill up fewer flights. 

The Air Transport Association and some of the airlines feel that once everything levels out, the fuel crisis eases and the economy becomes balanced, we can look for some gradual decreases in fares.  Until then, all we can do is wait.

As we look at the rush toward finding the best alternative fuels and the best ways to distribute them and provide choices for the American people and people in countries around the world, some things that may not be as obvious to us besides creating independence from fossil fuels are the additional benefits of this quest.

Of course, alternative fuel will cut or eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.  We also know that there are benefits to the environment for various reasons, especially lower or no emissions and more self-containment.

In addition, there are plusses for the economy and employment, which are inextricably linked.  With the economy in the shape it is in, some good news about economical improvement and more jobs is music to the ears of politicians and just plain everyday people.

Before we get too over-the-top excited, it is important to remember that this is not an overnight fix.  Though there are many organizations, corporations, cities, states and the federal government working diligently to find ways to develop fuel alternatives and some have already started their work – it will take time for the migration from fossil fuels to the “greener” alternatives to take place. 

Researchers estimate that it can take up to 2.5 to 3 decades for the transition to be complete, but along the way, at least 4.2 million jobs will be created, new training opportunities will exist, and additional jobs will be added along the way.  Jobs can involve every area from working on wind turbines for energy to creating alternative fuel – and everything in between.

In all, it is agreed by lawmakers and corporate executives alike that a concerted effort to use various forms of alternative fuel and energy and continue working hard to do this sooner rather than later will make a positive contribution to the environment, the economy and employment prospects from here forward.

With the world looking for alternative energy and automobiles that can get us where we want to go without using fossil fuels and adding to the pollutions problems, hybrid cars can be a good alternative to the cars most people are driving now.

One of the main drawbacks or the hybrid cars has been their batteries.  The typical battery – a lead acid battery – can store a great amount of energy, however there are also problems associated with them.  When they are charged and discharged repeatedly, as in turning on and off a car engine, the battery gradually fills with deposits of chemicals, which coat the inside of the battery.  These deposits make the battery wear out much faster.

Researchers have been looking for a battery that will not have those problems, and a company named CSIRO out of Australia has created the Ultra Battery.  The Ultra Battery combines a lead acid battery with a supercapacitor.  The Ultra Battery will store as much energy as a regular lead acid battery without the battery plate getting coated with deposits that make it wear out sooner.  The capacitor acts as a buffer during charging and discharging so that this does not happen and the life of the battery is extended.

During testing, the Ultra Battery lasted 4 times as long as the lead acid battery and drove over 185,000 km without any problems.  The Ultra Battery was still in good shape with plenty of energy left to keep running. 

Cost has been another worry regarding batteries for hybrid cars.  The Ultra Battery should solve that problem as well.  The projected cost of the Ultra Battery is about one-third to one-fourth of NiMH batteries and only one-sixth of what the lithium ion batteries used on higher powered electric cars cost.  A couple of Battery manufacturers in Japan and the United States have begun the process of modifying their plants so that they can begin manufacturing the Ultra Battery, making it available sometime next year.

The Paris Auto Show is one of the most extravagant in the world.  It features the newest, the latest and the trendiest cars available.  This year’s show, which is open right now, has blended two trends together for the good of the auto-buying public and for the sake of the environment.

The trend toward keeping the planet green and helping to do it by using small efficient cars has been combined at the Paris Auto Show, in many cases through the premiere of electric cars.  It has become apparent that the economy will be headed in the “green” direction – keeping the earth green, and by doing so by the use of electric cars; it should keep some green in both automakers and consumers’ pockets.

All of a sudden everyone is interested in electric cars – even the United States.  There are a number of reasons for this, but the main one is the fuel crisis and its impact on economics.  Last month only 1 million cars were sold in the United States.  That’s a very scant number.  In fact, this is the lowest amount of cars sold in a month in the last 15 years.  Europe is worried about the same situation.  Half of the cars purchased in Europe are financed, so the number of cars sold has a huge effect on the economy.

This is why the electric car is getting so much attention.  There are 19 electric cars showing at the Paris Auto Show.  They are all similar versions of the same basic car – a small car that can be plugged into a regular outlet at home or at a charging station.  The idea is that charging stations will be made available at various easily accessible places on the street – instead of the way that filling stations are used now.  Charging would take about 6 hours for a complete charge at 110 volts in the U.S., or 3 hours at 220 volts in Europe.  The cars can run for about 100 miles when fully charged, which is great for city commuters.

The Chevy Volt is one of the cars on display at the Paris Auto Show.  The Volt is currently being tested in Denmark and Chevy plans to sell between 100,000 and 200,000 units starting in 2010.  These would switch from fuel to electricity when the fuel runs out.  It is estimated that by 2015 there will have been 2.5 million electric cars sold in Europe. 

There will still be hurdles.  If the price of fuel continues to drop the way they have been dropping, many people may choose to keep their old cars a little longer rather than spend $10,000 for a new car.  In addition, nobody really knows how strong the market for electric cars will be and there are other alternatives that could come on the market as well.

Regardless, there are now beginning to be more options, and they are all the rage these days in Paris.

It seems like just a few weeks ago there was loud groaning about how high fuel prices had gotten and how there was no end in sight.  Everyone from the public to lawmakers to economists was worried and even panicking.

Here we are a few weeks later and the situation has been going the opposite way.  The predictions were that the price of fuel would continue to rise as economic woes continued to get worse.  While forecasters were fanning the flames of fear, economists and others started warning that the fuel crisis and the economic crisis are linked – not just locally – but also globally. 

The issue now is that with stocks tumbling, real estate and mortgages falling apart and banks having to be rescued on a daily basis, it is impossible for oil prices to be separated out of the mix.

In the past week alone, the cost of crude per barrel has fallen over $6.00, to under $87.00.  In a period when gasoline was up over $4 per gallon a month or so ago with dire predictions about $5, $6, or $7 per gallon or higher being tossed about, it has been interesting to see how fast the price per gallon has plummeted to below $3.50 per gallon, and even more interesting that the predictions are that the price per gallon of regular gasoline will be less than $3 by the end of the next 30 days.

Some of the forecasters that have long term foresight have been issuing strong warnings that as the stock market and the economy get worse; the price of gas would go down.  People would not be able to afford to purchase it at the high prices during a severe economic downturn.  When the stock market is as volatile as it has been recently dropping between 500 and 800 points in one session and affecting global markets, there are definitely economic repercussions.  Europe is experiencing worry, fear and panic by its citizens because of the far-reaching effects of the economic problems.

Some of the only folks who might be experiencing a little extra relief are the auto dealers who sell large cars and trucks – and who have plenty sitting around because fuel was too high for people to purchase – or those who own large cars or trucks and were really feeling the pinch at the pump more than those with economical cars.

We are not out of the woods yet, and the economic and fuel crisis is not as simple as it may seem.  For now, we may be getting a break on gasoline, but keep your eyes peeled – there is more to this roller coaster ride than meets the eye.

Atlanta is one of the large, solid business centers in the United States.  It is also in a very difficult situation when it comes to fuel for commuters – there is a dire shortage.  It’s not just that prices are high – it’s that people are having a hard time finding gasoline.  Commuters are often traveling 10 to 20 miles out of their way to find a gas station that has fuel, then waiting in line for 30 to 60 minutes to be able to fill their tanks.

Employers have taken note and are trying to use some creative ideas when it comes to dealing with the commute – or non commute – and getting the work done.

One way that employers are dealing with the situation is by doing two things that other cities and some businesses in Atlanta had already been doing as the fuel crisis has been increasing.  Some businesses have gone to a 4 day, 10 hour per day work week, eliminating one day of commuting which saves gas and money for employees.  Many businesses have implemented a system of telecommuting so that unless employees actually have to be in the office, they can perform their regular duties from home.  Telecommuting has been around for a while now, but some employer have been reluctant to try it for various reasons, including the fact that they feel it is not as effective, efficient or productive.  Actually, employers that have been using telecommuting for some time now report just the opposite – employees are getting more done and doing a better job.  The current fuel crisis is forcing some employers to try telecommuting and/or the 4 day work week, and that may be the norm for the future.

Other ways that employers are trying to get the work done and help employees at the same time include providing van and carpools, subsidizing or paying for bus or rail passes so employee do not have to drive and even other employers are offering employees $500 if they buy a car that has two cylinders less than they are driving now and $1,000 if they buy a hybrid.

The Clean Air Campaign in Atlanta,  is so busy trying to field questions and help employers and employees with ideas in the face of the fuel crisis, that they have had to add several employees to handle the overflow.  Though the fuel crisis is creating difficulties and inconveniences for commuters, employers and employees alike, it  is also creating opportunities to develop short term and long term ideas that can prevent this type of situation from happening again.

It is unfortunate that things had to get to this point and people have had to find answers to hard questions very quickly, however, necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention.  Now that the necessity is upon us and the inventions are coming to the fore, we should continue to develop them, improve them and stay focused on them, unlike the way we forgot many of the ideas and lessons of the gas shortages of the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Let’s take the opportunity – like Atlanta is doing – to be creative and to get it right this time.

Hurricanes are usually bad news to homeowners and businesses in their paths.  We have seen the overwhelming results – especially since hurricane Andrew did so much damage in the early 1990’s.  Since then, it seems that there have been more hurricanes of greater magnitude leaving greater destruction in their wake. 

The folks that live in the southeastern United States have been hit with multiple hurricanes one after the other and have had a difficult time just beginning to try to recover.  Now, on top of the grueling recovery, there is a severe fuel shortage that has hit the area as well. 

Because oil production had to be temporarily halted due to the storms, many areas in the southeast are playing catch up.  In Sandy Springs, GA, a mail carrier went twelve miles out of his way to get to a gas station that had gasoline to sell.  When he got to the station, he had to wait in line for 40 minutes to be able to get to the pump and purchase gas for his mail truck.  As they say, neither sleet, nor snow nor hail nor rain…not gas shortages.  The mail will get through. 

Many drivers are reporting having to go to several gas stations that are out of gas before they find one that has gas, and then they must wait in long lines to be able to purchase the gas they need.  The refineries had to shut down in advance of the hurricanes and it takes a while for them to get pumps up and flowing and online again.  Some of the refineries are still not up and running yet.

In addition to this delay, the U.S. Department of Energy states that even before the hurricanes, gas inventories were at their lowest levels since 1967.  On the other hand, there are some supplies of fuel getting through to the area, but the governor of Georgia feels that part of the shortage is self-induced because people are panicking and rushing out to purchase all the gas they can, which artificially increases the demand on an already thin supply.

In the weeks to come, everyone from the governors to lawmakers to the Department of Energy predict that fuel supplies will get back to normal.  They – as well as consumers – are looking much more carefully at ways to implement alternatives sooner rather than later, now that they know just what the combination of the aftermath of hurricanes and severe weather plus fuel shortages actually feels like.

It’s no secret.  We’re in a fuel crunch reminiscent of the 1970’s.  The difference is that since we didn’t do some of the things to follow up after the 70’s and 80’s, the crunch is bigger and there are many more cars and other vehicles involved.  To top that, since we are in the midst of just about the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, the fuel situation is simply one of the critical issues we are facing.

Lawmakers and automakers have begun talking about how working together might help everyone and everything out of the entire mess.  It is essential that since the country did not take the warnings of the 70’s and 80’s seriously and begin to make changes, the time to make those changes is now.

People cannot afford fuel at current prices.  In addition, the United States uses 25% of the world’s fuel, but only controls about 3%, not a good combination.  The environment is also being affected by fossil fuels and autoworkers are losing jobs because all of a sudden, there is no fuel for gas-guzzling SUV’s so nobody is buying.  It’s like dominos, or, as the President said recently, “a house of cards.”

What if the lawmakers in their power to help bail everybody else out – including other countries (even ones who have attacked this country) started really helping the automakers make the changes necessary to control the fuel crisis?  For instance, subsidies or tax incentives for producing hybrids and other cars that are more fuel efficient and do not depend on fossil fuels to run, could help failing automakers stay in business.  This help could also keep thousands of autoworkers from losing jobs and possibly create thousands of additional jobs, strengthening the economy.

At the other end of the spectrum, creating incentives and making it easier for individuals to get car loans with lower interest rates (without being careless or ridiculous), would help wean people out of their fossil fuel cars and into alternatives that would be good for the environment and the economy, as well as the fuel crisis.  Helping people convert cars to be able to use ethanol if possible could also be another way to approach the situation.

These are but a few small ideas from a few individuals among the millions who are hurting from the fuel crisis and the economic crisis we are all currently dealing with.  Maybe they would be workable ideas.  Maybe not.  But working together to save jobs, put money into the economy, find and use alternatives for fossil fuel and help the environment at the same time can’t be all bad.

We all know that we are in the midst of a fuel mess.  Not enough fuel.  No way to get it fast enough.  No real plan in place.  You know the deal.  So, what is the answer to solving the crisis?  In a few words, there are a lot of suggestions but not one answer.

At the Republican National Convention there were loud chants of “Drill, baby drill!”  To some, this seems like a good idea, and it may or may not be.  The issues that have come up from both sides of the aisle regarding drilling are that drilling takes a long time to set up.  There is the task of finding the right spot, ecological studies, permits, test drilling, building platforms and more.  Experts, researchers and many others say that it would take nearly 10 years to see any usable fuel from new drilling.

Since right now, the United States has about 3% of the world’s oil but uses well over 25% of the world’s fuel, waiting 10 years doesn’t seem like a helpful short-term option.  This is not to say that drilling should not be part of the equation to address the fuel crisis.  It is to say that other forms of fuel and energy need to be researched and probably combined into a complete plan that will evolve over time.

There are ways to use ethanol and biofuels in certain cars now.  Production could be increased on these cars and incentives could be given to both the automobile manufacturers and the individuals who purchase these autos in an effort to offset costs for both.  Change of this magnitude is not free, and it’s not cheap, either.

There are cars that are already hybrid and cars using solar and electric power.  Other cars in the wings are hydrogen cell powered.  All of these are less harmful to the environment and will conserve energy and eliminate the need for at least some amount of fossil fuels.  Some of these are being used now, and their use can be increased with the right marketing and incentives.

Researchers are looking at ways to use recycled solid waste to power cities and transportation.  There are ways to use nuclear energy to create power, and we have been doing this for decades.

As for drilling, those who say that it won’t work also say that most of the usable oil is located within 50 miles of the shoreline, but the new energy plan, if passed, will not allow drilling any closer than 50 miles of the shoreline, so there may not be many oil rich areas out there, according to some.  Also, even though the lawmakers will allow the moratorium on drilling to lapse so that the possibility of drilling can become a reality, it ultimately remains up to the individual states as to whether they will approve it or not.

Drilling is a viable option and should not be dismissed.  The current fuel crisis was not created overnight, and just like losing weight after gaining it over a period of time, the solution will not be finalized over night either.

Brazil has quietly become a leader in the efforts to decrease dependence on fossil fuels.  In doing so, they are providing the world – especially the United States – some ideas and methods that should be taken note of.

First of all, after the fuel crisis in the 1970s Brazil moved forward looking for and acting on solutions. 

One of the solutions is to look at a variety of sources that can be turned into biofuels.  Sugar, various plant oil feedstock, starches (which can be turned into sugar) and oilseeds are all excellent sources.  In addition researchers are looking at which of the thousands of types of algae would be appropriate to produce biofuels.  Also, one more piece of the biofuel puzzle could be the use of animal fat from cattle, pigs, fish and poultry.  At present, there is extensive research regarding the technology needed to be able to use all these sources to create biofuel.

There are already proven and cost-effective technologies available to be able to produce biofuels from sugar crops, starch and oilseeds.  Scientists, researchers and farmers are working to create high yields from these crops.

For commercial transportation there are additional fuels needing additional types of treatment and technology.  To create biodiesel and/or ethanol, government subsidies are needed, and in Brazil and other countries, this is taking place.  For these two types of fuel essential to the transportation industry, there is an extra process that turns them from regular biofuel to biodiesel or ethanol.  This can be lucrative if the technology is efficient enough, and researchers at looking at ways to see how this can all happen. 

Energy economists worldwide are in agreement that biofuel is critical and that “mix biofuels” will be an essential when it comes to powering vehicles.  Bio refineries will be needed to produce the quantities needed, and researchers are working toward developing an effective system of these refineries.

One thing that Brazil did after the crisis in the 1970’s was to shift the major portion of their use of petroleum to bioethanol.  This saved them nearly $50 billion in their oil import bills.  In addition, the change to bioethanol from petroleum created over one million jobs, most of them rural.

With all the conversations regarding alternatives to imported foreign oil for fuel, Brazil’s bold move forward in the late 1970’s through today is important for the world to look at.  Other countries, such as India and  China whose economies are weighed down by high oil import bills would be helped by using ideas similar to Brazil’s, and the United States would definitely benefit by using some of the alternatives and making at least some of the changes that Brazil has made.

On top of everything else that is going on in the world there is now information from experts, including AAA Automobile Club regarding how to save money on gasoline.  One of their spokesmen made the comment that lower grade or lower octane fuel can be used and it “probably won’t hurt your car.”

There are a few ideas behind this.  For one thing, in some areas, especially due to the hurricanes, there is only lower octane fuel available, so drivers often don’t have a choice right now.  For another thing, with the cost of Premium fuel at about $4.29 per gallon in South Carolina versus the cost of Regular fuel at $3.93 per gallon, that can save a little money.

AAA spokesman Tom Crosby says that “generally speaking higher grades just improve a vehicle’s performance.  Regular gas (87 octane) pretty much won’t hurt your vehicle.”

There are some questions about that.   For instance, if the manufacturer of a vehicle designed it to use higher grade fuel and you don’t use that particular grade or quality how could that be good for your car and not create any problems?  Was there any research done on the subject?

Now, if that is what you can afford and you have no other choice due to financial reasons or short supply of fuel in the area, you have to do what you have to do.  Many of us are in that situation right now, hopefully, temporarily.  However, if you can fill up your tank with the right grade or at least split the tank between the low grade and medium or premium grade, that is best to do if possible. 

Whether the AAA states it or not, there can be some negative effects on the engine’s timing by using lower grade gasoline than recommended and there could also be compression issues.  If you choose to use lower grade gasoline, call the car’s manufacturer and/or mechanic at the local dealer and ask what could happen.  Make sure that if your car is under warranty you will not lose coverage due to not using recommended fuel.  Some warranties are very strict.

No matter what you decide, make sure you understand the consequences in advance.  If there are no major long-term issues, do what you think is best.  After all, if there’s a 40 cent difference between premium and regular and you need 20 gallons, that’s an $8.00 savings per fill up.  If you fill up once or twice a week, the savings could be substantial.  Just make sure the tune up, cleaning the injectors, fixing the timing and the compression if there’s a problem later won’t end up costing you a lot more in the long run.

NASCAR and the Detroit automakers used to be connected at the hip.  Whatever was going on in Detroit made its way onto a NASCAR track and there was instant advertising.  That is not so much the case any more.

NASCAR certainly uses plenty of cars and plenty of advertising, but times have changed, and in the wake of the current fuel crisis, times at NASCAR may have to change even more.

It’s not as if NACAR will be slowing down their races or using alternative fuels tomorrow.  After all, NASCAR reluctantly started using unleaded fuel long after the public did, and it certainly hasn’t hurt the sport any.

There are some ideas about what NASCAR can do to help with the current fuel crisis.  They have long since gone to smaller engines, but it has been suggested that less horsepower might be a good idea.  Nearly 900 horsepower is a ton of horsepower which is probably not really needed to run a good race.  NASCAR is reportedly looking at the issue to see if less horsepower is a viable proposition.

One thing that NASCAR is beginning to do is to look at the idea of using pace cars that run on alternative fuels.  This is a great idea in many respects.  First of all, pace cars don’t affect the actual race, so speed won’t be a factor.  In addition, General Motors has given out some hydrogen powered SUVs to major racing figures, such as Kevin Harvick, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon just to ride around town in. 

This high-visibility, low-key, low-pressure approach to getting vehicles – especially popular SUV’s – powered by alternative energy out into the community, especially when driven by NASCAR legends, is an intelligent marketing campaign which could help people in a subtle way become aware of the fact that there are choices when it comes to the vehicles they drive.  In the back of their minds they will be thinking of this as they determine what type of vehicle to purchase.

Who knows if NASCAR will ever race hydrogen-powered cars, but the idea of driving around town in them and hopefully using pace cars with alternative fuel could be NASCAR’s contribution to helping solve the fuel crisis.

The search for alternatives to fossil fuels is at a breakneck pace worldwide.  Researchers are working with everything from ethanol to solid waste trying to find ways to provide alternative fuel sources to power cars, busses and cities throughout the globe.

For the first time ever, a proton motor fuel cell has been approved in Germany.  This is an energy source involving hydrogen fuel-cell technology which is a powerful and fuel efficient source of energy.

In the past, the cost of producing the cells was prohibitive because the cells, called stacks, had to be produced one at a time and they could only be produced in small quantities. 

The PM 200 stacks were actually invented to be mass produced, however certain tests had to be completed and approvals had to be given by the government.  Now that this has been done, the original idea of automated production, which will be much more cost effective as well as much faster in bringing the product to market so it can be used, will be able to go into effect much sooner.

The stack had to pass leak tests, freezing and thawing tests, pressure tests and more in order to become certified.  The stack passed all of these tests without any problem.  Now that the certification has been given manufacturing and production at a high level can begin.

Hydrogen is a very versatile source of energy and can be used in many areas.  Some of the applications in which the PM 200 stacks can be used are buses, trucks, forklift trucks and an uninterrupted supply for telecommunications systems. 

The SM 200 is not only certified for use, but also has an extremely high quality standard.  It is the very first product of its kind in the world and the first to create the certification and quality standards that will apply to all hydrogen fuel cell stacks of this type to follow.

At a time when the world is searching for alternative sources of energy, the approval of the SM 200 is exciting and encouraging news.

Recently there have been reports about various projects working to turn otherwise unusable products into energy sources.  Many of the reports have involved one or two companies who are working on ways to do this overseas with promising results.

There is now a report out regarding a U.S. company that is using municipal solid waste to convert to fuel.  Sustainable Power Corporation, located in Baytown, Texas has announced that it tested Municipal Solid Waste in its reactors and the results have been excellent.  The company was able to produce biofuels by using this process, and achieved an added bonus.  They exceeded their projections as to what they would be able to accomplish by the process they are using.  The process also exceeded the results that the company had achieved when using other sources of fuel.

There were three trial studies performed, with a yield of over 19 pounds of biofuels produced for every 25 pounds of waste used.  This is an exceptional yield, leaving very little waste compared to other methods of fuel production.

There is a truly innovative and exciting benefit to what Sustainable Power Corporation has achieved.  The three-fold benefit is that in this one type of fuel production will help alleviate the petroleum shortage, create sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel and manage waste products by using them for fuel rather than adding to existing landfills or other waste depositories.  Another plus for the company and all involved is that instead of the company having to pay for fuel stocks, they can receive waste, possibly being paid to collect it, and drive the prices of fuel downward instead of upward, since waste should always be plentiful.

This is an exciting development in the race to find viable, affordable, environmentally friendly, renewable fuels to replace dependence on fossil fuels.  Because of its ability to help in all these areas, development of ways to turn waste into energy could truly be a big part of the long-term energy solution.

The current fuel crisis is affecting everyone from limo drivers on Wall Street to municipal bus systems to individuals simply trying to get to work.  While lawmakers in Washington are grappling with the issue, everyone else is trying to just get through on a daily basis.

Since the warning was not heeded 30 years ago, people are just now having to figure out what to do to conserve fuel and to afford to purchase it.  The problem is that it is much easier to plan in advance than it is to come up with workable solutions once you are in the middle of a crisis.  And since the administration has been denying that there is a crisis up until the recent outcry became deafening, it left people at an even greater loss.  How can you plan for a crisis that the government says doesn’t exist?  Exactly.

Some of the latest victims of the fuel crisis are schools – and the kids that attend them.  Many school districts have had to curtail or eliminate activities that involve transportation. 

Of course, hurricane Ike and all of his previous hurricane relatives have not helped the situation, either, because the supplies of oil have been interrupted in the Gulf.  Even before the hurricanes there were cuts in driving activities.  Now they are mandatory.

One school district has curtailed the driving portion of driver’s education to save fuel.  In addition, there is a moratorium of sorts on field trips.  For now, unless a trip is for an essential athletic event, any other types of field trips are cancelled.

There are serious budget issues involved in these decisions to curtail or eliminate trips.  Busses get about 8 miles per gallon in city traffic and about 10 to 11 miles per gallon on the highway.  When even a small school district transports children it can be up to 7,000 miles per day to transport over 5,000 students, the cost can average about $3000 per day.  This is quite a hardship on districts that struggle with small budgets and are trying to stretch every dollar.

For now, for some school districts, this is the only answer.  Lawmakers are now seriously working on the fuel crisis issues and have finally passed a bill to try to begin fixing the problems.  This is a step in the right direction; however, you can’t fix 30 years of problems that have been ignored, overnight.

In the meantime, schools and other businesses and individuals will continue to have to suffer.  It’s unfortunate that our kids are losing out because it has taken so long to start working on the problem.

We’ve been skirting around the issue since the current fuel crisis started getting serious.  Then came the hurricane season – especially the last two in the past two weeks. 

Availability of fuel was getting pretty tight before all that, and the prices, well…forgetaboutit.  Many of us remember the late 70’s and the 80’s when fuel prices went up, supplies went down, and most of us waited in long lines for our turn to buy gas.  Even days then odd days, and every time we went to the pump, we seemed to have to go earlier and earlier to get gas before it ran out.  In fact, in our community, many of us parked our cars in line late at night or at 2 a.m. and came back in the morning before the station opened so that we could purchase what we needed.

With the closing of some of the oil sources in the Gulf of Mexico due to the recent hurricanes, some experts are recommending possible rationing again.   Here we are 30 years later and we haven’t moved 30 years forward.  It’s not as if this is a new idea.  We have known for at least 30 years that we should be gradually reducing dependence on fossil fuels and replacing them with alternative sustainable sources of energy. 

Now that the fuel crisis has caught up with us again touching off other types of crisis, food issues, mortgage problems, unemployment and more, the idea of rationing is back.  Former Shell Oil Company President, John Hofmeister, told the Washington Times that ‘we need a president and Congress who is willing to make some courageous decisions regarding oil supply.” 

Hofmeister, who is chairman of the National Urban League, also made the comment that the fuel crisis and the economy is disproportionately hurting middle and lower income families.  He blames the politicians, pointing to the fact that president Bush purposely waited 7 and ½ years to deal with the gas crisis that was spinning out of control and not until it has become an economic catastrophe has he even begun addressing lifting the moratorium on offshore drilling.  He added that Congress has only made feeble attempts and “token gestures” to solve an energy crisis that requires significant action. 

Hofmeister feels that just as corporations have short, medium and long term strategies, so does the U.S. regarding the energy and economic crisis.  For now, he feels that in light of hurricanes that affect the availability of fuel in certain areas, there should be a limited – possibly six week – period of rationing fuel. 

These ideas will be explored further, as will many others, while lawmakers and oil companies look for solutions.  In the meantime, anyone who has a car should be forewarned and forearmed that rationing is a real possibility.  It could happen here again.

Everybody is searching for fuel these days, and almost everybody is trying to find fuel that is sustainable, environmentally friendly and affordable. 

The UK has been experimenting with biodegradable fuel that could cut its transportation fuel purchases by 10%.  The fuel is actually created by using bacteria found in compost heaps.  The bacteria is used to convert waste plant fiber into ethanol. 

Researchers have actually created a new strain of bacteria that can break down straw and agricultural plant waste, domestic hedge clippings, wood chips, cardboard, garden trimmings and other waste products and convert them into fuel that can be used by the transportation industry.

There are a number of benefits to this discovery in addition to having another source of fuel.  The bioethanol fuel produced by the process will easily mix with existing fuel.  By creating the mix, greenhouse gasses will be diminished and this will help decrease global warming.  In addition, the fuel will reduce dependence on foreign oil and work toward meeting criteria for renewable energy sources.

Bioethanol used to be quite expensive to produce, because the barley mash had to be heated then cooled then re-heated, taking quite a lot of time, as well.  The new strain of bacteria that has been created does not have to go through such an intricate and elaborate process, making it faster and less expensive to produce. 

The UK has just completed commissioning its first cellulosic ethanol demonstration facility.  There are only a few of these facilities in the world.  Researchers are convinced that in addition to creating biofuel, the process can be used to create high-value chemicals and drug ingredients that are currently created from oil.

There are reports that the U.S. is working on similar projects that could create one piece of the energy puzzle through sustainable waste that is easily obtainable and efficient to use, while being renewable and less harmful to the environment.

For many years there have been efforts to keep oceans clean and to clean them up and eliminate waste in them if they are not clean.  We often think of waste as small items such as trash, soda cans and bottles and other items that end up overboard – accidentally or not.

There is a much larger issue when it comes to waste in our waters and an organization called “Fishing For Energy” is doing something on a large scale to help eliminate the problem.

Fishing For Energy is a partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), Covanta Energy in New England, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and Snitzer Steel Industries, Inc. to help communities along the nation’s coastlines eliminate or reduce the amount of abandoned fishing gear in coastal waters.

The way the partnership works is that it collects abandoned fishing gear and debris in cooperation with and with assistance from local fishermen.  Gear collected includes abandoned nets, crab pots, poles, and parts, as well as trawl gear.  This gear is a threat to marine life, navigation and ecology, so cooperation in eliminating it is essential to the health of the oceans and the coastal communities that depend upon them.

Not only is there cooperation with each town and the fishermen who fish in the coastal waters to remove debris, but there is also a concerted effort to eliminate fishermen from using outdated or abandoned gear that is no longer fit for use by fisheries.

All of the debris is collected and taken to Covanta’s Renewable Waste Energy facilities to be turned into energy that is renewable and environmentally sustainable.

This program is being used in several communities now, with plans to greatly expand and help communities throughout the country and throughout the world.  With innovative programs such as this one, it is encouraging to know that we can find environmentally friendly sources of energy and clean up the environment at the same time.

Algae has been sought out as a source for fuel since the 1950s.  At that time experiments were being started to see if converting algae to fuel could run cars efficiently.  In the late 70’s when the fuel crisis was creating long lines at gas stations, studies to see whether or not algae was a viable alternative to fossil fuel began in earnest, funded by government and private money.

As the fuel crisis of the 70s and 80s ended, memories shortened and money for fuel research dried up in favor of other studies, algae research slowed to a near halt.  However, with the fuel crisis looming its head again, there has been a tremendous interest in algae as an alternative source of bio-fuel.

While researchers have been looking for methods of using algae for cars, there has also been research to help find alternatives for airlines and the military, who are also troubled by the same fuel issues that everyone else is.  It looks as if one company, Solazyme, has found an alternative that will work.

Solazyme has been researching an algae-based alternative to jet fuel and has created an alternative that passes the ASTM’s standards.  It is the first algae-based bio-kerosene fuel and could be used for jets both commercially and in the military, which would provide solutions to problems for both.

This algae-based fuel has the same properties as regular jet fuel.  It also has an advantage over other bio-fuels in that most bio-fuels freeze at high altitudes, but algae-based bio-fuel does not freeze at high altitudes.  Algae-based jet fuel also has the same density that regular jet fuel has, which makes it a truly viable choice, since none of the alternative jet fuels produced matches in density – not even ones derived from coal or natural gas.

It will take time to bring the fuel to market for widespread use.  At present it is more expensive to produce than fuel that is currently used.  Also, building a plant or plants to create and produce the algae-based fuel is a huge expense and will take time to do.  However, the good news is that this fuel, when ready, will not hurt the planet, especially the rainforests, and the rest of the good news is that researchers are making progress toward eliminating dependence on expensive foreign oil, which will put air travel in reach again.

It makes sense that in times of a fuel crisis where we are being told to conserve fuel by carpooling or riding the bus, ridership would go up.  On top of conserving fuel, some drivers simply cannot afford to drive their cars because of high fuel prices, so they are also using mass transit to get from one place to another.

Even this, however, is causing problems.  According to a U.S. Government report regarding rising fuel costs and the impact on mass transit, the majority of mass transit systems are experiencing an overflow that they cannot keep up with.

Because people are opting to use mass transit – especially buses – the system is overcrowded and can’t handle the number of individuals it now needs to serve.  One would think that because there are more riders, there is more revenue and, as a result, there could be extra buses on heavily used routes, especially during peak hours.

The issue is that fuel prices have increased for everyone, not just individuals.  Mass transit systems are paying much more for fuel than they had projected in their budgets.  Many cities, such as Denver, have had to eliminate various routes or scale back from ongoing service to service only once or twice per day.

American Public Transit Association (APTA) William Millar has stated that the “mass transit system in the United States is woefully underfunded.”  That, plus the skyrocketing costs of fuel has caused some cities to cut their routes more than once this year as well as increasing fares, in an effort to continue service.
Millar says that Congress needs to provide financial assistance to help the mass transit systems provide services for those who need it, and he says that Congress needs to do this “now, before the recess that will go into next year.” 

With ridership on the rise – in most cases as the only means of getting to work and maintaining employment – it is essential that these services are continued to avoid adding to the financial woes that the country is already in.  More unemployment will only increase the problems, and if people can’t get to work because there is no public transportation their unemployment is in jeopardy.

Hopefully Congress will hear Millar’s plea and help mass transit now before their fall session ends and leaves transit systems and their riders stranded until next year.

Everyone is looking for an alternative to fuel that harms the environment, costs too much and holds the country hostage to the handful of countries that control fuel supplies.  There are numerous ideas being considered. 

As the presidential election inches closer, we are hearing about everything from drilling to ethanol to natural gas.  Of course, any of the alternatives to fossil fuels would require major adjustments – and possibly major costs – to the vehicles that these fuels are made for.

There are, however, some alternative fuels that have not been mentioned much and that many of us do not know much about.  Algae is the basis for one of those bio-fuels.

According to researchers, algae can be grown inexpensively and it can be grown in areas that are unfit for crops.  As a result, crops that are raised for human or animal consumption would not be affected by the growth of algae, which has been a concern when dealing with using crops for the development of ethanol.

Experts in the Department of Energy and in the Bio-Fuel industry estimate that algae for fuel can yield up to 30 times more energy per acre than soybeans and other crops, thus using less land for higher results.  In addition, there are thousands of types of algae world wide that could be adapted to be grown and harvested for fuel.

Algae is extremely rich in oil and scientists have been able to isolate the types of algae that have the most oil and the best suitability to be used for fuel.  Extensive research has been done from the 1970s through late 1990s, especially during the Carter administration.  In fact, there are existing patents for using algae as a base for fuel.  Funding and budget shortages ended research at that time.

There is good news, however.  With all eyes on the fuel crisis, there are three U.S. studies being performed regarding the viability of using algae to create alternative fuel.  Additionally, there are studies being performed in Japan, Australia and other countries involving major oil companies.

Algae may very well be a big part of the solution to the fuel crisis affecting the U.S. and the world.  Though there are no immediate answers and though it will probably take a combination approach, algae could alleviate a substantial part of the fuel crisis at a reasonable cost, and the good news is that it is available everywhere. 

The current fuel crisis is not new news.  It has been escalating for quite some time now.  In fact, since the late 1970’s and 1980’s, the world has had fuel issues that have needed to be addressed.  During the severe crisis and shortage of the 70’s and 80’s there was talk by researchers and lawmakers and citizens alike stating that it was essential to find alternative fuel and alternative ways to find fuel.

The crisis at that time died down, and so did the talk and the money for research.  It seems that the trauma of those years, the long lines, leaving your car at the gas station the night before your even or odd license-plate day, or showing up at 4 A.M. to wait your turn, were forgotten once there was a “fix” for the oil we depended upon.

The result is what we are seeing today.  When things were so difficult, the promises of a race to find the alternatives to fossil fuels were freely flowing.  Fast forward to now, and the alternatives are not here or they are not available.  Even Congress has been baffled as to what the answers are.

In May, in an effort to understand the crisis as much as possible, Congress invited truckers, consumer advocates and energy industry analysts to offer testimony regarding the effects of the fuel crisis.  The reason for this, according to Congress is that “oil impacts every aspect of our life.” 

Truckers, gas station owners and refiners have all been hurt severely by the current fuel situation.  The President of the National Association of Small Trucking Companies stated in his testimony before Congress that “high fuel costs affect everything – everything in this room came on a truck at least once.”  Testimony placed some of the blame on gas station owners, and squarely on oil companies, who are making more profits than ever.  Fifty years ago, oil company shareholders received 1% of the profits.  Twenty years ago, 10 to 15%.  Ten years ago, 15% to 20%.  And now, with the worst fuel crisis and highest prices in history, shareholders are receiving 50% of the profits and oil companies are paying little or no taxes.

Congress listened to the testimony of these individuals who know how hard the crisis has hit.  Lawmakers have spoken about the problems in the months since, and it is even an election issue.  It is time for us to see what will actually be done to fix the problem this time – once and for all.